National Play Outside Day

Yesterday was National Play Outside Day! Everyone put down your electronic devices and get outside! Sometimes responsibilities and distractions keep us from spending time in the fresh air as we should. National Play Outside Day is a reminder to stretch our legs and expend some energy in the great outdoors.

Being outside is proven to be beneficial to your health. Natural surroundings help to lower cortisol levels, which alleviates stress and decreases blood pressure. The great outdoors also helps your mental health by increasing dopamine, a pleasure chemical, as well as serotonin, in your brain. Playing outdoors clears the cobwebs from our brains. We sometimes get stuck on a topic, project or issue and are unable to resolve it. A change of scene often brings clarity we didn’t have before. 

Nothing compares to inhaling outside air into your lungs – it helps you breathe more deeply and intake more oxygen. Engaging in physical activity outside is very healthy. Whether you are running, biking, golfing, or hiking, it does not matter what it is you are doing outside, as long as you are in the fresh air and moving your body. In addition, being outside is a low-risk activity for spreading viruses so it is safe to be social outside as well!

Now that spring is here, time to celebrate Play Outside Day as often as you can!